Reading Between the Lines: What Magazines Don't Write About

Waiting for my milkshake in a Paddington cafe today, I picked up a copy of Grazzia magazine.  The first thing I noticed was fab find product shot of a Portman's shoe that looks like a knock-off.  I wondered, surely a professional fashion editor would know if this is a one-for-one rip-off.  So why would they promote it as a fabulous fashion find?  And if that editor did know, how would she justify showing high-end designers next to companies that are ripping off those designers?

I'm sure the answer is money.  As I flipped through the pages it became quite easy to make the direct correlation between the editor's fab finds, top picks, etc and a full page advertisement from that same company elsewhere in the magazine.

This is where as readers, we need to become a little more sophisticated and possibly critical.  I would go as far as to say don't give any weight to editorial mentions or picks at all if that company has advertised anywhere in the magazine.  Read between the lines.  Some people like advertising as content. But only if you know about it.

This is why I'm buying fewer and fewer magazines and reading more and more blogs by poor and independent editors.  The content is better, more honest and usually more interesting.  The down side for the bloggers is they often don't get paid.